Auxiliary control device



Feb. 18, 1930. A, B, FR ME'R 1,747,357

AUXILIARY CONTROL DEVICE Filed Dec. 12, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 18,1930. A. B. FRENIER.

AUXILIARY CONTROL DEVI CE 2 sheets-sheet 2 Filed Dec. 12, 1924 A er75.2% 71/691" 7 '4M%#v7 w 55: k w

Patented Feb. 18, 1930 'UNITED STATES PTENT OFFICE ALBERT B. FRENIER, ononrcneo, ILLINOIS, nssrenoa, BY innsnn ASSIGNMENTS, 'ro PETROLEUM HEATAND rownn comnny, or new YORK, 1c. Y., A conronerrorc OF DELAWAREAUXILIARY CONTROL 'IDEVIOE Application filed December 12, 1924. SerialNo. 755,586.

pump, gravity or other force, in which afloat and float chamber areemployed to con- Q trol the flow of liquid from a storageor service tankto the point where the liquid is used or consumed, the float operates'attwo levels of the liquid in the float chamber; namely a low level, atwhich it operates to start the feeding apparatus into operation and ahigh level at which it shuts off or stops said feeding apparatus. Theproper operation of the apparatus depends primarily and essentially uponthe float, which, if in proper working order, will not fail in itsintended function.

Floats, however, are apt to become logged by puncture or otherwise, inwhich case they will fail to rise with the rise of liquid in the floatchamber, so that when the predetermined high level of liquid in thefloat chamber is reached, the float will fail to act and the feedingapparatus will continue to operate, thus flooding the float chamber.Some 30 means, as an overflow pipe has been employed to take care of theexcess liquid; but then comes the problem of disposing of the overflow.In original installations this may be done of course through a returnpipe to the reservoir tank. This, however, requires double piping and isexpensive, particularly when the float control is applied to oldinstallations and where the reservoir is located at some distance fromthe point of use or of consumption of the liquid.

' Again, there is the possibility of a failure of the float, after ithas come to the lower level in the float chamber, and has started thefeeding apparatus into operation, as 4 when, by reason of excess flowtowards the point of use or consumption, due to breakage in the'line orotherwise, the liquid flows from the float chamber at a greater ratethan it is supplied by the feed to the float chamber.

In such case the level of the liquid in the float plosive, and for thisreason float controlled liquid feeding apparatus has not been fullyapproved nor has it met the safety require ments in the case of fuel oilfeed for burners in furnaces for domestic and commercial use.

The object of the present invention is to produce an auxiliary controldevice for use with a float controlled feeding apparatus, whichauxiliary control will supplement the action of the float and act toshut off or stop the feed when the float fails of operation, and whichwill operate, whether the float fails at either the predetermined highlevel or at the predetermined low level of the liquid in the floatchamber.

The purpose of the improved auxiliary control is to do the only thingpossibledi desirable when the float fails, that is to automatically shutdown the feed and prevent further flow of the liquid from the service orreservoir tank until the float has been repaired or replaced.

The advantages of the invention will appear more fully as specification.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a view representing in vertical centralsection a familiar float controlled liquid feeding apparatus, namely, anautomatic oil feed pump, to which is applied my auxiliary controldevice.

Figure 2 is a View partly in vertical cen-. tral section and partly invertical elevation representing another automatic oil feed pump with thereservoir tank with which it is connected and with a somewhat modifiedform of the auxiliary control device applied to the float chamber. v

In illustrating and describing my invention, I. have presented it asapplied to auto- I proceed with my matic oil pumps such as'used'inconnection with fuel supply for oil burners in domestic and commercialfurnaces, since such floatcontrolled liquidfeeding apparatus operateunder conditions when the failure of the float is aptto have the mostserious consequences.

and 12 indicates a small tank which encloses thefloat chamber of anautomatic oil pump installation of familiar construction. The motor 10and pump 11 are supported on the cap 13 of the tank 12, which, itself,is provided with a suitable base 14 resting upon 15 indicates the usualfloat mounted on a vertical rod 16 between top and bottom collars 16,16", thereon. guiding relation in a pipe 17 depending below the bottomwall 18 of the tank 12. Said rod is pivotally connected at its upper endto a lever 19, fulcrumed intermediate its ends upon a bracket 20depending from the top wall 13 of the tank. An adjustable stop in theform of a screw 21 threaded through one end of the lever 19 is adaptedfor engagement with the underside of the top wall of the tank to limitthe downward movement of the float.

22, 23 indicate electric conductor wires connected to the motor 10 and23 indicates a snap switch interposed in the circuit of one of saidconductor wires, as 23. 23 indicates a link which operates the switch 23said 1 link being connected to the lever 19 between the fulcrum bracket20 and the stop screw 21.

'24 and 24 indicate respectively the high and low levels of liquid inthe float chamber Liquid is admitted to the tank 12 through the inletpipe 12*, which may lead either from a large reservoir tank buried inthe ground outside the residence or factory in which the burner to besupplied is'located or may lead from. a comparatively large service tank10- sated in the residence or factory building. 12 indicates thepipeleading to the place of consumption or use, as the burner in thefurnace.

As shown in the drawings, the liquid in the float chamber has justreached the low level 24 and the float, falling with the liquid, hasswung the lever 19 to move the link 23* upwardly to close the switch 28and start i the motor 10. Liquid is thus being pumped into the floatchamber through the inlet pipe 12. The pump continues to operate untilthe liquid rises to the high level, 24, in the float chamber, when thefloat will have been raised sufficiently to swing the lever 19 to pulldown the link 23 so as to open the switch 23, whereupon the motor isstopped and the I inflow through the inlet pipe 12 ceases.

My auxiliary control, in the enlbodi l pt The rod 16 has fails tooperate at the upper level 24 of liq-.

uid in the float chamber or when the float, having operated its switchto start the mo tor, fails to operate because the liquid continues tofall below the low level 24 on account of a break in the pipe 12 and theout-.

flow of liquid from the float chamber at a greater rate than the inflowthrough the pipe 12 The switch 25 is operated by a link 26, which asshown is connected by a chain 26 and hail 27 to a bucket 28.Asillustrated in Figure l, said bucket floats in a body of liquid in asmall auxiliary, open vessel 29 connected by a pipe 30 to the tank 12,as through the outflow pipe 12 so that the level of the body of liquidin the vessel 29 will always be the same as the level of the body ofliquid in the float chamber.

A removable open cap or spider, 31, at the top of the vessel 29 providesa stop or abutv ment to arrest and limit the upward movement of thebucket 28. The bucket normally floats in the liquid in the vessel 29 butis of suflicient weight toexert a pull on. the

chain 26 and link 26, to open the snap switch 25, when the body ofliquid in said vessel falls below the low level 24 in the float cham-.v

its further rise is arrested by its bail 27 strik- I ing the open cap orspider 31 at the top of the vessel. The continued further rise of theliquid will finally reach the top of the bucket so that the liquid willflow into and fill the bucket to a point so that it will no longer floatand will sink in the liquid in the vessel. Such sinking of the bucketwill exert a pull on the chain 26 to open the switch 25.

Thus in either case, whether the liquid fall below the low level 24 inthe float chamber or whether it rise above the high level 24 in saidchamber, the switch 25 will be operated to open the motor circuit andstop the pump and motor. Manifestly the auxiliary control acts to stopthe further feed of liquid, when the float in the float chamber fails ofoperation for any cause.

VVhen the bucket 28, has become filled or partially filled with liquid,as when it acts above the high level of the liquid in the float chamber,it may be emptied (after the float is repaired or replaced) by removingthe cap or spider 31 and withdrawing it from the vessel 29. I

In Figure 2, the invention is shown in a slightly modified form. Thereinsimilar parts are indicated by the same numerals used heretofore, withthe suffix x. In this case the motor, 10 and pump 11 are shown as beingremote from the float chamber 12 and switch 23, and in the vicinity ofthe service tank 32 to which the pump is connected by a pipe 33. A pipe34 leads from the pump to the inlet pipe 12 in the float chamber tank12*.

In this case, the auxiliary vessel 29, is dispensed with,-the bucket 28being suspended in the float chamber 12". To introduce the bucket intothe float chamber, an opening-pr hole is madegin the top Wall 13 of thetank 12. In said hole is secured a threaded plug 35 provided with a heador other means for turning it as a screw. Said plug may be screwed intoareinforcing, threaded collar 36 applied to the hole in the top wall ofthe tank. The plug 35 is bored vertically to receive a tube 36 to thebottom end of which is secured a forked arm 38 within which is suspendeda bucket 28". The bucket has laterally disposed studs 37 which engage invertical slots 38 in the depending tines 39 of the forked arm 38. Thebucket 28 is thus movable vertically with reference to the tube '36. Thetube itself extends above the body sired.

The snap switch 25 is in this case mounted at the top end of the tube36' and its operating link 26 and the chain 26 by which it is connectedto the bucket 28 extends down through the tube 36. The chain 26 is connected to a bail 27 at the top of the bucket as before.

The o eration of the bucket will be the same in this case as before.Said bucket 28 by its own weight, when the liquid in the float chamberfalls below the low level 24, so that thebucket is no longer floated,will pull the chain 26* and open the switch 25 to stop the motor andpump. On the other hand, when the liquid'in the float chamber risesabove the high level 24*, the bucket 28 will continue to riseuntilarrested by engagement with the horizontal parts 39 of the tines- 39,whereupon, the rising liquid will flow into the top of the bucket andfill it until sufficient weight of liquid has been acquired to sink thebucket in the surrounding liquid and pull the chain 26 to operate theswitch 25 and stop the motor and pump.

Manifes'tly, the levels at which the auxiliary control is to operatewill be determined by the vertical location of the bucket 28 or 28 withreference to the high and low levels in the float chamber and thedistance of the abutment or stopthe cap 31 in one case and thehorizontal parts 39 of the tines of thebifurcated arm 39 in the othercase-above the high level. This adjustment will depend upon and becontrolled by how much leeway is desirable in the rise of liquid in thefloat chamber above the high level and in the fall of liquid belowthe'low level before the auxiliary control is desired to act.

In order to empty the bucket 28, I have provided as shown in Figure 2, aflexible member, as a Wire or chain, 40, which is attached to an eye 41fixed to one side of the bottom of the bucket and is extended through anopening 42 in the plug 35. A ring 43at the top of the said wire or chainsupports the same and serves as a grip for use in pulling up on thechain to dump the bucket.

' While in describing and illustrating the invention I have presentedmany details of mechanical construction and arrangement, it is to beunderstood that the invention is' in no way limited thereto except asmay be pointed out in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention 1. In a float controlled liquid feedingapparatus, in combination with the float chamher. the float therein, anda control member adapted to be operated by the float at predeterminedhigh and low levels of the liquid in the float chamber, an auxiliarycontrol member adapted to be operated to stop the feed when the liquidrises above said high level and when it falls below said low level.

2. In a float controlled liquid feeding apparatus, in combination withthe float chamher, the float therein, and the control member adapted tobe operated by the float at predetermined high and low levels of theliquid in the float chamber, a normally inoperative high and low levelsof the liquid in the flood chamber. a no rm ally moperative auxiliarycontrol member adapted to be operated to stop the feed, abucket'normally floatin in a liquid maintained at the level of thellquid in said float chamber, said bucket being connected to saidauxiliary control member, and means for arresting the upward movement ofsaid bucket when the liquid in said float chamber rises above saidpredetermined high level. i

4:. In a float controlled liquid steedinp; apparatus, in combinationwith the float chamber, the float therein, and the control memberadapted to be operated by the float at predotermined high and low levelsof the liquid in the float chamber, a normally inoperative auxiliarycontrol member adapted to be opmated to stop the feed, a bucket normallyfloating in a liquid maintained at the level of the liquid in said floatchamber, said bucket being connected to said auxiliary control member,means for adjusting vertically the level of said bucket with referenceto the high and low levels 111 the float chamber, and means forarresting the upward movement of said bucket when the liquid in saidfloat.

chamber rises above said predetermined high level.

- 5. An auxiliary control to be applied to a float chamber of a floatcontrolled liquid feeding apparatus, comprising a tubular supportingmember, a plug adapted to be applied to' the top of said float chamber,

said plug being provided with an opening through which said tubularmember extends, means for adjusting and holding said tubular member insaid plug, means for supporting a bucket at the bottom end of saidtubular member, said means providing'for a vertical movement of saidbucket, a normally inoperative control member at the top of said tubularmember, a flexible member extending' downthrough said tubular member andconnecting said bucket with said auxiliary control member, and a stopadapted to arrest the upward movement of said bucket.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I affix mysignature, this 6th day of December, 1924:.

- ALBERT B. FRENIER.

